Vehicle



9 H. F. MOG. MATTHEWS 1,337,278

VEHICLE Filed Nov. 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f [kriarlji' When/ 6,

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Dec. 22, 1931. H. F. Mos, MATTHEWS 1,837,278

VEHICLE Filed Nov. 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuentoz dmwup.

Dec. 22, 1931. H. F. McG. MATTHEWS 1,837,278 7 VEHICLE Filed Nov. 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 22, 193i UNETEE STATES PAFEZNT @FFEQE HERBERT F. MCG. MATTHEWS, OF FGRT I'vICKINLEY, RIZAL, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS VEHICLE Application filed November 18, 1929.

The present invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly to a cart adapted for use especially by the infantry in carrying and supporting machine guns, wire reels, and as a ration and ammunition cart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cart of simplified construction which is adapted for easy transportation, whether on its own wheels or when knocked down by hand, and which is capable of quick an t easy adjustment, to provide a rolling or a stationary support for machine guns, reels, or the like in accordance with the demands of the service or movements required.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a separable or knocked down cart which is so constructed that it may easily be manned by a relatively small detachment or crew and readily set up into firing position within a f w seconds and thus provides a quickly and readily available support and mounting for a machine gun or the like when the infantry is on the march.

The invention has for a still further object to provide a convertible cart which is of peculiar construction, so that the usual tripod of a machine gun may be quickly mounted on the cart and quickly removed therefrom, an d wherein the cart, by virtue of its peculiar construction, may be detachably secured to the wire carrying reels, ammunition cases or the like according to the various requirements of the moment met with while the infantry is in action and during other maneuvers.

A l further object of the invention is to provide a cart of this general character which embodies the above outlined features and which is composed of a number of separable parts capable of use in this combination, such as for supporting and conveying individual wire reels and which is capable of adjustment for use in using the machine gun in anti-air craft firing, and in providing a cart of this character which may be quickly and easily coupled to an ammunition cart in the usual manner.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understood from, the following detailed description of the Serial No. 408,053.

present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top plan view of a combined machine gun and reel cart constructed ac- 5 cording to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, supporting a machine gun and its equipment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken through one side of the cart showing the detachable wheel for supporting the same.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the wheel spindles and its removable shank.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through one side of the cart showing a slight modification wherein a crank hanger socket is interposed between the cart frame and the wheel for changing "the elevation of the cart frame, the view showing the frame elevated.

Figure (3 is a similar view with the crank hanger in reverse position and wherein the frame is lowered.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the cart having wire reels mounted thereon and having a handle bar attached to. a trail leg of the frame.

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section of the same.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the parts of the cart adjusted to support a single reel.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken through the same with the reel removed, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View taken through one side of the reel support shown in Figure 9, substantially on the line 1111.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to the form and adjustment of the inven tion as shown in Figures 1, 2-, 3 and 4-, the cart is provided with a main frame of substantially T-shape having a front cross sill 15 and a trail or tongue piece 16 which is branched from the sill piece and comprises therewith the main parts of the frame. The sill 15 is preferably of flat construction to present an upper bearing or carrying sur face, and at opposite ends the sill is provided with stirrups 17 in the form of up- 2 i,se

standing rectangular fian 'es borderi end and torw d edges of the sill l5.

The trail m 111 i-"" 1l wi't (1 cross sill 15, or be a sep areas pan secured thereto. The sill 15 has der side and its opposite G1 (LS axle housings 18. Each hou a in F1 gin-es 2 and 3, may comp o co.

secured or otherwise sultan adjacent er ds of "he Ed which a non-circular 19 the through leadi tion with their 1 tically disposed openings i. 's detachably engaged a locking pin latter having a handle or eye upon -1- end to facilitate the rumor of the pin 24. outwardly beyond as shown in the drawin be readily grasped by ly removed when it is d axle 21 from the frame.

The axle 21 carries a. supporting wheel of any sultable type, and shown in the p1esent instance, oi" wire spo equipped with a pneun may he a wheel of the t cycle side IlOWBY that the wheel may be and suitable construction.

ous articles and impie pose of securing the tion upon the sill, the l a pair oi 26, o under side of each further provided with sec a 27 disposed inwardly in lation to the outer straps 2e.

I i o}. uOlL-d A. second braeke as shown in Figure 1.

1G in spaced relatioi secured to the tra t0 the bracket 28 and provided across under side witn a pair of straps 30, the bracket 29 being disposed to receive an. munition c "a or the like and t3 hein tioned to engage about the ammunition or box and hold it to the bracket The trail 16 is provided near its outer end with a stirrup 01 which opens forwardly toward he cross sill l and w nch 1s provider.

therebeneath rith a cross strap for h ing objects in the stirrup, as will later ap- The extreme outer end of the trail '6 is provided with a hollow T hea l which l6 and ad' *eceive a bar or the like or-fa f the cart when the a ammunition cart I carries a ring or luuelte adapted to couple the cart of this inen'iic to an ammunition cart by the usua unable artillery pin and in the usual manne '1: he outer end of tle trail 16 is provided at its under side with a spade or one or which ex ends ream-.nrdly and downy ally at an litati as is 1 or the like i at n v r angle to the trail lo so that when the cart I. a V .1... or used as a un caiiia e the s )u. e on ills r; b i 1 a the cart en in the groiiznd and anchor ngiuly in place.

The cross sill 15 is provided, preferably beneath each socket 18, with a ground spike having a base plate by means of which the spike attached by belts or the like in position beneath the cross sill. The ground spikes 36 are adapted for use in holding frame in lined position upon the ground when the wheel 25 are removed and not in use.

From A igure 2 it will be noted that when the cart is used as carriage for a machine un 37, the forward legs 38 of the tripod of the machine gun are seated at their lower ends in the socl-zet 13' w are held in such position by the straps 26. The rear leg 39 Of the tripod is ted in the rear socket I and held therein by the strap s i ure 2 also shows ammunition boxes 4-0 on the 15 between the of the tripod, the straps 2'7 securing the ammunition boxes e 0 detachably in position. The bracket 28 supports in proper position the water can 411 used in supplying the machine gun 37 with the cooling medium required, and the bracket 29 supports a suitable packing case 42 for ammunition, spare parts or the like as may be required.

It is apparent that when it is desired to seat upon the ground it is only the frame fiat necessary for a gun crew to elevate the -trams slightly, remove the pins 2-1- from the sockets 18, and withdraw the shanks from the sockets 18, at which time the wheels may be carried to remote spot and the frame be eased down upon the ground with the spurs 36 engaging in the ground and holding); the rrame from shifting. The spade also serves an anchor for the rear end of the cross sill 43 may have at its end a socket to receive the crank portion 45 of a crank hanger 46. The crank portion 45 and the socket 4:4 have registering apertures to receive the pin l7 which detachably interlocks the parts and holds the crank hanger 46 in either the depending position shown in F igure 5 or in the upturned position shown in Figure 6. The free end of the crank hanger 46 is provided with a non-circular socket 48 which corresponds to the socket 18 in Figure 3 and which is adapted to detachably receive the crank '20 which connects the wheels 25 to the frame. By use of the crank hanger 46 the frame may be adjusted into raised position above the axes of the wheels 25, as shown in Figure 5, or the frame may be suspended into close proximity with the ground as shown in Figure 6 by merely reversing the position of the crank portion of the crank hanger in its socket 44.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the cross sill 15 is used for carrying a number of wire reels 49 for carrying electric wires adapted for use in establishing lines of communication between various field points. Each reel 49 is provided with a U-shaped bracket 50, the base of which is flat and adapted to seat upon the sill 15 and is secured thereto by bolts or the like which facilitate the quick and easy removal and positioning of the reels with respect to the cart. It will be noted that the trail 16 is provided with one of the reels 49. The bracket of this reel is secured to the trail 16 by bolts or the like in a manner similar to the attachment of the other bracket.

The reels are secured to the cart with their axes transverse to the cart so that the wire may be readily drawn off from the reels, whether by drawing the wire itself or by anchoring the wire and drawing the cart. This arrangement also facilitates the rewinding of the wire on the reels by means of the crank handle 51 provided on each reel.

In Figure 7 the hollow T head 33 is provided with a pulling bar 52 which is of suitable length to extend crosswise of the cart and admit of grasping at opposite sides thereof for manually moving the cart when it is necessary. The pulling bar 52 has at one end an integral flat T head 53 suitably apertured for receiving various attachments hereinafter referred to, and at the other end the rod 52 is provided with a removable T head 54 which may have a threaded shank or the like to enable the quick and easy positioning and removal of the bar 52 with respect to the hollow T head 33. The removable T head 54 is provided with inwardly directed tongues or projections for a purpose which reel 49 in its bracket 50, and where the passage through which the reel is to be carried is relatively narrow, the crank hangers 46 may be utilized as the crank portions 45 thereof may be inserted in the opposite ends of a above the wheels 25 to admit of the quick and easy operation of the reel.

lrvith this adjustment of the parts the pulling bar 52 is removed from the hollow T head 33 and is bolted by means of its fiat T head 53 beneath one end of the bracket 50, as shown in Figure 10, so that the pulling bar 52 may be used as a tongue for the carriage. In this instance, the detachable head 54 of the pulling bar is provided with a pair of detachable handles 57 which may have apertured shanks for fitting over the lugs 55 and over the opposite ends of the T head 54. The handles 57 may be quickly removed from the T head 54.

In use, the cart may be employed as a machine gun carriage, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this instance the T frame is composed of the cross sill 15 and the trail 16 which may be mounted upon the wheels 25 and be equipped with the machine gun 37 and its tripod. From Figure 3 it will be noted that when the trail 16 is lowered to the ground the spade or anchor point 35 penetrates the earth and serves to hold the cart from movement under the recoil action of the gun.

It is apparent that the cart may be attached to the ammunition cart in the usual manner and trailed behind the same in the line of march. When it is desired to go into action the trail 16 may be quickly uncoupled from the ammunition cart and the vehicle of this invention be manipulated into proper position for adjustment, as shown in Figure 2, so that the machine gun 37 is supported in proper position for use. If it is desired to operate the gun 37 from a low level, the cart may be manned by a gun crew for removing the wheels 25 by merely withdrawing the pins 24 fromthe sockets 18 and the T frame with the machine gun thereon be lowered to the ground.

Another use of the cart of this invention is in carrying electric wire on reels as shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this invention the reels may be quickly mounted on the T frame and the latter be manned in desired manner, with or without the wheels 25, to carry and support the wire reels 49. The pulling bar 52 may of course be connected to the trail 16 at any time desired for facilitating the grasping of the cart by several men in the gun crew.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the wheels and attachments for the cart may be assembled with respect to one of the reels 49 so as to carry it and provide a carriage or vehicle of very narrow gauge which may be operated by one man through a narrow pass or under such conditions 'whereby' one reel of wire is required.

' Figures 5 and 6 showtoadvantagehow the parts ofthecartmaybe ad usted to support l 1 the T frame in: either raised or lowered posiions with respect to the axis of the wheel j support;

y it is'of course-understood that'variousw changes and modifications may bemade in ing claims, Vvhatlc'laI.1 n is:'- 1

1. A mac im'e gun and 1 mg a T: frame including av cross sill, and a 1 trail, stirrups carried by the; cross sill and trail. adapted to receive the 'feet'of a machine gun tripod, means for securing said feet in the stirru'ps, and wheelelements detachably; mounted upon the: opposite: ends of the cross 1 sill.

f ame, a spade projecting downwardly from the longitudinalmember ofth'e T frame for engaging tne' ground to anchor, the i tram by lnsttm ovemenhand ground spurs'carriedbeneath the cross meinber of the'T frame for, 1 engaging the ground when the wheel ele-;

ments are removed.

3. A machine gun and reel cart comprising a T frame including a cross member and trail, sockets carried upon the opposite ends of the cross member, spindles having shanks removably fitting in the sockets and carrying wheels for supporting the cross sill, ver tically disposed pins removably engaging through the sockets and the spindle shanks to lock the latter in the sockets, stirrups carried by the cross sill and the trail for receiving the feet of a machine gun tripod, and a hollow T head on the end of the trail provided with a lunette for connecting the trail to a source of traction or the like.

i. A machine gun and reel cart comprising a T frame having a cross sill and a trail, said frame adapted to support objects upon its upper side and provided at the opposite ends of the cross sill with sockets, detachable elements mounted in the sockets and arranged to carry wheels for supporting the frame, means for detachably holding the wheels to the frame, an anchor spade beneath the rear end of the trail, and ground spurs beneath the cross sill, said spade and spurs adapted to enter the ground and anchor the frame from shifting when the wheels are removed.

5. A machine gun and reel cart comprising a T frame, wheels detachably mounted on the frame, reel brackets mounted on the frame and having wire reels thereon, and a frame and sockets atopposite; sides of: the frame, crank hangers reinovably mounted 1n v the sockets and having sockets ontheir outer reel cart comprise loclzin the same together, Wheels carried by r n. l g frame adjacent the stirrups for engagingthe 7 I 7 Y tripod to? hold the'machine gun to the frame, and: brackets mounted: on; the frame between i v I I the, stirrups for supporting the machine gun, I I I attachments pulling bar detachably connectedtothe frame for facilitating the support anddraft of the frame.v 1 a v 6; in combination with a cart having l a-T ends, wheel, spindles having wheels thereon and detachably f tingin said second sockets, and reels with brackets mounted on a said frame, each ofsaid brackets having a socket opening through the base thereof andv said; crank hangers adapted for detachable en-;

; a sai ant: is I t e opp s e O e k v op ning of one of said reel brackets for indi vidin-lily supporting the same. i A; 11151611136 gun and reel in the sockets and shanks for interdlcs, said frame having stirrups on, securing: devices carried by the 8. A machine gun and reelcart compris ing a T frame, including a cross member and trail, perforated socket members carried upon the opposite ends of the cross member, spindles having perforated shanks removably fitting in the sockets and carrying wheels for supporting the cross member, vertically disposed pins removably engaging through the socketsrand the spindle shanks to locate the latter in the sockets, stirrups carried by the cross member and the trail for receiving the feet of a machine gun tripod, and a hollow T head on the end of the trail provided with a lunette for connecting the trail to a source of traction.

HERBERT F. MoGr. MATTHEWS.

cart compris- 1 v 1 v ing "a: T frame having across sill anda trail, I v

said; erosssill having a non oircularsochet at each end and: the trail; hollow; T

head at its rear end, a pair of spindles each I w ns n se e la shank f r enga m nt intheiscclrets, coupling pins detachably en -Q theme :for receiving the feet of a machine 

